Automobile turn-table.



. J. GEAMMES.

UTOMOBILE TUR APPLICATION FILED AUG, 4, 1913.

N TABLE.

Patented Jan. 1914.

. To allA whom it may concern:

UNITED -sratrns PATENT OFFICE. Josera r. camas, or taxawoon, omo.

auromomu. TURN-ranas.

Specication of Letters Patent.

Patented J an. 6, 19111.,l

Application led Aug-ust 4, 1913. Serial No. 782,888.

Be itknown that I, J osnrH J. Gnaunns, a citizen of the United States, resident of Lakewood, county of Cuyahoga, and State of Ohio, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Automobile Turn-Tables, of which the following is a specification, the principle of the invention being herein explained and the best mode in which I have contemplated applying that principle, so as to 'distinguish it from other inventions.

-My invention relates to turntables, and particularly to turn-tables adapted for use in connection with the housing of automobiles.

The object of the invention 1s to provide a turn-table which will be transferable and which' will eliminate the necessity of providing a permanently located, track upon which the table proper is supported.

My said invention consists of means hereinafter fully described and particularly set forth in the claims.

The annexed drawing and the following description set forth in detail certain means embodying my invention, the disclosed means, however, constituting but one of various mechanical forms in which the prin-r ciple of the invention may be a plied.

In said annexed drawing: igure 1 is a plan of an automobile turn-table embodying my invention. Fig. 2 is a side elevation of same. Fig. 3 is a bottom plan of same. Fig. 4 is a detail section, upon an enlarged scale, taken upon the plane indicated by line IV- IV in Fig. 1. Fig. 5 is a detail section on a similar scale taken upon the plane indicated by line V-V in Fig. 1." Fig. 6 is a side elevation of a fragmentary portion of the device showing a braking device applied to one of the supporting rollers. Fig. 7 is a side elevation of one of the extension-members.

The illustrated embodiment of my invention comprises two main members, the baseframe 1 and the tableproper 2. The baseframe includes two angle-members 3 3 each bent to'form a continuous ring and having similar legs placed vertically and opposing eachother to form an annular space 4, as

illustrated 'in 4, the other legs being horizontal and in the same plane. These two members are fixed relatively to eachI other by means of suitable tie-plates 5 preferably riveted to the bottom of the horizontal legs of the angle-members 3 3, as

shown in Fig. 3. To the bottom of the latter are also secured the radial tie-members 6 6 whose inner ends are secured to a suitable gusset-plate 7, these members bein provided for stiffening the ring-portion o the frame, as will be readily understood. Also secured to the bottom of this ringortion are a plurality of castin 8 8 w ich support a plurality of paral el rods 9 9. Upon each rod is mounted a pair of supporting rollers 10 10, by means ofy which it will be r`seen that, when these rollers are resting upon the ground or other support,

the base-frame is rendered mobile and is capable of being transferred from place to place. y"Secured to the vertical legs of the angle-members 3 3 and extending across the annular space, are a plurality of bearingbolts 11 11, upon each of which is mounted an anti-friction roller 12, Fig. 4.

l The table proper comprises in its strucf ture a bottom-portion which consists of a T- member 13 bent to form a ring of a diameter such that the wvebortion may 'rest ceI1- trally upon theY antiriction rollers 12, as shown in Fig. 4, which position is that which said member occupies when the parts are assembled. Also comprising a part of the table proper, resting upon the top of the T- member 13 and suitably secured thereto, are two main track or guide-'members 14 14 whose corresponding ends are connected, by

means of transverse connecting bars 15, which bars are connected by a longitudinal channel-bar 16, Fig. 1. This last bar is also `preferably secured by a riveting or bolting the member 18 with the annular space 4,

that is the concentricity of the` table with the supporting-base, as will be readily understood.

Forming a part of and the end of each tracker guide-'member'14 is an auxiliary track or guide-member 18, Fig. 1. Each of these latter members is hinged to the end of a member 14 and is normally'held in a p raised position by means of a suitable spring 19, Figs. 2 and 3, while at the same time it also occupies a downwardly extending position. The extreme outer end ot each of these members is curved downwardly and outwardly flared. It will therefore be seen that when the entire structure rests upon a support engaged by the supporting-rollers 10, the track-members 18A would be out of contact with such support and its rotation upon the rollers 12 will be unhindered.

In using the above described device 'for turning an automobile, the latter is run up to the turn-table until its front wheels come in contact with the two end members 18 18 at one end of the device. A further movement of the automobile forward will cause theor guide-members 14. Upon being so placed,v

' the automobile may be turned by swinging same and hence turning the table 2 upon the base-frame, the end-members 18 18 having assumed their normal or raised position after the automobile has been placed upon the members 14 14. When the required position of the automobile has been imparted, it may then be runoi' the table proper, the end-members 18 18 bein depressed and acting as an incline for suc movement. When the direction of' movement of the automobile is at right angles to the axes of the rollers 10, the tendency of the entire structure would be to move, rolling upon the supportingrollers 10. Tov prevent such movement 1 provide a braking device, preferably applied to each of two rollers mounted upon the same rod 9 and as shown in Fig. 6. rlhis b1 ake consists of oscillatory member 20 hinged in the vicinity of one ot said rollers and formed with a concave surface 21 having a curvature substantially similar to 'that of the exterior surface of said roller. The axis of this member 20 is so located that the member may be swung down into a position in which the said roller enters the concavity formed and engages the concave surface 21, the extremity of the said member 2O passing beneath the roller'and interposing itself between same vand the ground or other support upon which the structure rests, as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 6. In' order to hold the brake member in a normal or elevated and inoperative position, a resilient detent 22 is provided which may engage the projection 23 on the brake-member 20, as shown in Fig. 6. Pressure upon the outer incenso@ 4end df the said brake-member will release caused to engage a keyhole-slot 2'( formed l in each of two corresponding ends of the said track-member, as shown in Fig. 1. By

these means it will be seen that the length of' each of the said track or ide-members may be extended when desired:u The keyhole-slot and pin arrangement makes the extension readily applicable or removable.

In order to readily transfer the turn-table from place to place, a suitable handle 28, Fig. 1, may be provided and is .preferably made detachable. When it is desired to transfer the device, the table is swung so ythat the direction of the detachable handle will be at right angles with respect to the axes of the rollers 10, as will be readily understood.

By means of the above described structure it will therefore be seen that a'turn-table is provided whichl may be transferred from place to placewith ease and which in any position and upon any character of support tor the rollers 10, will always permit the table proper to be rotated without interference. In this manner an eiicient turning device is provided without the necessity of installing a permanentlyv located track, as is vusually necessary, whereby the space in front of an automobile arage may be always unobstructed. Furt ermorethe expensel of installation of such a permanent track is eliminated.

Having fully described my invention,

what I claim and desire to secure by Letters 1. In a turn-table, the combination of a base-frame consisting of two concentric angle members forming an annular space, anti-friction rollers mounted in said space, and supportin rollers for rendering said base-frame mo ile; of a table `comprising a circular member of T-section having its web resting upon said anti-'friction rollers, and parallel track or guide-members secured to the flange of said T-member.

2. In a turn-table, the combination of a base frame consisting of two concentric angle members forming an annular space, anti-friction rollers mounted in said space, and supportin rollers for rendering lsaid base-frame mo ile' of a table comprising a circular member o T-section having its web resting upon said anti-friction rollers, par

Loenen@ allel track or guide-members mounted upon the said T-member andsecured to the Harige thereof; and a centering pin' connecting said base-frame and table adapted to maimtain the concentricity of Said T and zingle-mem bers. V

3. 1in a turn-table, the combination of u base-frame providedwith supporting :rollersI adapted to render saidrame transferable;

a. table" viot-ntanby mounted upon seid base- 10 frame; and braking-means for engaging one or more of said supportin rollers. i

Signed by me, this 18th ay of July, 1913.

JOSEPH J. GRAMMES. ttested byv MAN Eem, A. E. MERKEL. 

